Paul Nevin » Fancy Dress

Travels in Quebec

Paul Nevin — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 08:10:47 +0000

Jacques Cartier sailed up the St Lawrence as early as 1534. Initial settlements were essentially set up to trade in furs. A remarkably diverse province is Quebec, second only in size to Nunavut……….

I have travelled many times to Quebec. My wife is French Canadian and her extended family live there. It’s a wonderful place to see and experience. Being the french speaking part of Canada, it has always felt like an interesting mix of Europe and North America. Montreal, wonderfully cosmopolitan, expressive and vibrant. An artistic feel is evident in so many ways, and pleasingly, is generously exhibited in the public arena. Its architecture, colonialist inspired or modern and imaginative, I have always thought a fantasic mix.

It is however, as it is on most occasions, forays into the country that most inspire. While retaining that North American feel, their attention to detail is superb, a certain style, charming and quaint. Time spent on L’Ile aux Coudres, a small island in the St Lawrence, illustrated this aspect perfectly. So to, a sidetrip to Beauce, down towards Vermont on the US border.

The real getaway came when heading 600 km’s north from Quebec City via Chicoutimi to an area called Lake St John. With our Ford Flex packed to the gunnels, and only just enough room on the back seat for camera gear, (readily accessible of course), the journey is made on what I would say are the best roads in the world. A far cry from the majority that are required to get us to, well lets say, the ends of the earth type destinations, the ones more often than not we normally take. A good playlist, definitely a hotdog or two, and a moose sighting if you keep your eyes peeled, and are really lucky, got us there, and all in armchair comfort.

My sister in law and her partner Jacques cosy chalet awaited us, fully equipped, and the most wonderful base from which to explore the lake and its surrounding areas. Although only a modest few degrees to the north, there was evidence that the leaves were turning, and the process that preceeds the long winter had already begun.
The days were still sublimely warm, with no hint of summer abating. If the night had been clear and cool, Jacques and I would often rise at first light to survey the potential for heading out on the lake. The weather, water and light, always different, gave rise to an expectation as to what wonderful experience might lay ahead. Some days when the conditions allowed we would travel 40km’s or so, to survey the mouth of some of the big rivers that feed the lake. One day heavy fog rolled in, blocking out the sun, dropping the temperature substantially, and diminishing visibility to such a point, that navigating became almost impossible.

Trips like this afford more time in which to reflect, catch up on old friends and enjoy lunches and dinners. Smoked trout, mushrooms picked locally from the forest and sometimes topped off with the amazing dish that is blueberry or strawberry pie, picked wild of course.
This all comes with the inevitable down loading and editing that is part and parcel of photography. While not always welcome or timely, dealing with it on a regular basis, makes for a smoother and relatively trouble free landing on the return home, where, after thirty plus hours and the jetlag that accompanies it, you will get to see the fruits of your labours, and truly appreciate the visual record of your most recent journey.

The lights of downtown Montreal, Quebec’s largest and most vibrant city.

As with many large North American cities, Montreal is home to a wide variety of cultures.

Two student protesters embrace after successful protests
‘downtown’. I later found out the frying pan was used as a means to create a din, at the event at which they were successful in having university fee increases 3. Two student protesters embrace after successful protests
‘downtown’. I later found out the frying pan was used as a means to create a din, at the event at which they were successful in having university fee increases

Even on the smallest of balconies, people would catch a ray of sunshine. Evidence that, in general, summers are short, and winters are long, too long.

There to see a photographic exhibition in another section of the cathedral, I could not resist a look, like many other visitors seen here making their own photographic record of this most magnificant structure, Notre Dame.

Night life, restaurants and bars abound around Rue Saint-Laurent.

Great weather helped make for a huge turnout at the 2012 Gay Pride parade in Montreal.

Montreal’s Gay Pride parade in full swing.

The Gay Pride parade passes east along René Lévesque

Wonderful murals like this one on the corner of Saint Laurent and Des Pins, abound in many areas in and around downtown.

You mention busking in Quebec and the name of Guy Laliberte, a partner in the founding and creation of the world renowned Cirque du Soleil will invariably come to mind. These buskers really made fantastic music and reaped the benefits of an extremely generous crowd of visitors, both local and international.

Beach goers in the tiny vallage of Saint Adolfe de Howard in the Laurentians, make the most of the last of what they say was the best summer ever.

As far as the eye can see. This secondary road on the way to Beauce and ultimately the boarder and the State of Vermont in the US.

The ferry across to L’Ile aux Coudres on the St Lawrence River.

Birds gathering at sunset, L’Ile aux Coudres.

An unusual sight at St Henri on L’Ile aux Coudres. Probably created by the by the very high tides the St Lawrence can experience. The tides in nearby bay of Fundy, new Brunswick are the highest in the world.

Chapel St-Isadore on L’Ile aux Coudres is maintained by the local faithful.

Even the smallest communities like this one in St Henri on the L’Ile aux Coudres, have their church, something central to their patrimoine (heritage). Travelling through the countryside is literally a journey from one spire to the other. Mostly painted silver, they shine brightly, acting as landmarks to all.

Here on the western shore of the St Lawrence, three generations of one family, along with their pooch, enjoy yet another perfect summer day.

This wonderful house in St-Jean Port Joli is now an Auberge (guesthouse), and was the former home of a prominent sea captain and his wife dating back some 150 years.

Beautiful late afternoon ‘godlight’ bathes the St-Lawrence River and the abandoned island of Pillars of Stones, whose lighthouse and community was razed to the ground by fire a century ago, but never rebuilt.

After twenty something days without rain, finally some leadened skies and the heavens opened. For a time, everything around St-Coeur de Marie became fresh and green.

These Alaskan Malamutes are used by their owner and handler as a sled dog team during the long winter.

With the sun sinking below the horizon of Lake St John, a man fishes peacefully as his daughters frollick nearby.

This chalet on Lake St John is the country getaway and belongs to my sister in law and partner, and is a superb base from which all exploration takes place, whether on land or on water.

At 80km’s in diameter, Lake St John creates its own weather. With the disparity between air and water temperatures, fog and mist can provide early morning atmospherics. You have to be up real early and invariably will not see nor hear another boat.

Once having cut the motor, and from first light, the early mornings were fresh, silent and allowed time to view and digest the sublime beauty as the fog lifted and the hidden landscape was revealed. Only calls of the occasional bird pierced the air.

With a storm raging all night, there are bound to be incidents. In this unusual scene at Point Wilson on Lake St John, a man, waist deep, tows his yacht back to it’s mooring after having rescued it from where it had run aground on the shoreline nearby.

By late afternoon the scene had changed markedly.

At twilight, lights pinpoint the location of chalets on nearby islands, some just not visible during the daylight hours. The lights on the far shore are from a town with the wonderful Indian name of Metabetchouan.

Downtown – Martin Place – Sydney CBD

Paul Nevin — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:18:04 +0000

Martin Place is located in the centre of Sydney’s CBD. Although crossed by two of its main thoroughfares, it’s a pedestrian only area, and a key focal point of the city. Some of Sydneys finest old buildings such as banks and main post office are there, and at its western end a War Memorial honouring those who lost their lives serving their country.
Last summer I had been doing some work in the vicinity, sometimes joining the lunchtime crowd that tends to gather in the area. While the people are mostly office workers, there are others such as trades people, shoppers, and the odd ‘hard case’. In addition there is entertainment, musicians, or at other times, people dressed in character who might be collecting on behalf of different charities. Also, there are various product displays and council approved advertising for a range of organizations and on some days, demonstrations, promotional give-aways, and certainly plenty of smiles and good humour.

At first I just took the odd one or two photos as time permitted. On occasions when in the city, I would time it right, and go out of my way to see what might be happening. Regardless of the weather, I would always investigate, camera in hand. The documentation certainly started from small beginnings, and as my interest grew, so to my dedication to the idea that it may make an interesting photo essay.

As can be seen in several of the photographs, there was definitely a positive interaction with many of the subjects. Almost all were extremely accommodating. Most times I would try to acknowledge the subject, or even on occasions, politely thank them having gained the picture.

There is certainly a lot more to the Martin Place story, but I think this small selection will give you some idea of a few of those who frequent the space, and some of what goes on on in this particular part or ‘town’. Here are just a few contrasting frames for your enjoyment.

Early morning joggers and business types in Martin Place, Sydney

‘Master of the Load’ a rigger strikes a pose.

Coptic christians demonstrate against the massacre of their followers by Muslim opponents in Egypt.

To the delight of exponents, Zumba creator Beto Perez, attended a class sponsored by Fitness First.

Advertising her show, a Burlesque dancer poses with firemen from the New South Wales Fire Rescue Dep’t who are seeking monetary support from the lunchtime crowd.

[caption id="attachment_569" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Acrobats entertain at a Starlight Foundation awareness drive. The charity is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions.

Bulldog NRL Rugby League players and cheerleaders on a promotional drive.

Girl’s reaction to a guy who wanted them to ‘High Five’ him.

At demonstration by Coptic Christians against Muslim persecution in Egypt, a woman is overjoyed at meeting one of the churches most important clergy.

You could unpin a charity voucher from where ever you fancied. He didn’t mind. And yes, the front was way more popular than the back. Despite being on the phone, he certainly caught this woman’s eye.

A Japanese groom kisses his bride while posing for a photograph.

A young boy is enthralled with the ‘larger than life’ fireman on a model of a fire truck on display during NSW Fire Rescue Services week.

Musicians with a distinctive ‘Folky’ sound entertain the lunchtime crowd.

Bikini clad promotion girl raising a few smiles amongst business types in the lunchtime crowd.

With the sun down, energetic teenagers perform great moves to driving beat music while skipping.

All smiles from the pirates ‘mate’ as they head for the underground railway.

The ‘big guy’ poses before the start of the Aimes ‘charity strut’ which supports Indigenous and Torres Strait Island children in furthering their education.

Playing the saxophone, a young schoolgirl entertains passers by.

The Governor General of NSW, Marie Bashir arriving for an official function.

An interesting character crossing Elizabeth Street.

Girls in bikini’s and pooches in mandatory ‘budgie smugglers at the Aimes ‘charity strut’ which supports Indigenous and Torres Strait Island children in furthering their education.

Jumping around like rabbits is one way of getting noticed.

Girl’s, looking sharp and ‘in step’.

Sweating it out, it’s all exercise for this pre-christmas Fitness First promotion.

Performance artist’s make a dash for it across Castlereigh Street.

A skateboarder gets some ‘air’ outside the Reserve Bank building.

For the fashion conscious, very bright, very shiny, sometimes iridescent, and always well heeled.